Chest of the Damned

Chapter 4

I am so terribly sorry for the lack of updates for the last (nearly?) two years! Those of you that know me personally obviously could already take a guess as to what kept me, but for those who do not, I suppose I owe you a bit of an explanation. Over the course of the past couple of years, I left California and moved back to my hometown in Washington. I met a wonderful man, we started seeing each other and building our life and exploring various places a bit, and one thing led to another and now we have a beautiful two-month-old boy. It's safe to say that I've been keeping myself busy and throwing myself into my life outside of writing. But now I'm hoping to pick my writing life back up! Rereading everything I've written thus-far makes me cringe, so I'm hoping to someday rewrite it all; but, until then, I will simply be continuing and hoping I don't make any mistakes upon anything factual about the characters that I've written so far. Love you all and thank you for your continued support.

Elizabeth was reminded, constantly, while sitting within the cell as to why she often despised men. 

As they whistled to her as if she were a dog whose attention they seeked, they called out things like, "Come a little closer," and, "We don't bite." Their grimy arms stretched for her from the bars, as she was staring aimlessly at her feet from across her own cell.

The sound of keys jangling against a lock drew her attention to the door of her cell, and a wave of relief washed over her when her father stepped into view as a soldier stepped back.

"Come quickly," was all he said as the other prisoners continued their catcalling, and she instantly rose and followed after him.

"Tell me what's happening," she demanded as she attempted to keep up with his hurried footsteps, and she would've been tripping over her skirts trying to keep up if she hadn't been so used to wearing them in the first place.

"Our name still has some standing with the King," he responded, maintaining his pace. "I've arranged passage to England. The captain is a friend of mine."

She stopped in her tracks upon his words, baffled that he would honestly think that she would just run away without a moment's notice. "No!" As he turned around to face her, she said, "Will's gone to find Victoria and Jack." Her brows furrowed when he suddenly looked annoyed.

"We cannot count on William Turner." He strode up to her. "As for your sister, I will have her collected by other means." He grabbed her arm firmly, and pulled her alongside him. "Come!"

"He's a better man than you give him credit for," she snapped at him, not even bothering to ask him how he planned on having Victoria found, knowing she would simply be ignored.

"There is no time for innocence. Beckett has offered one pardon only, one, and that is promised to Jack Sparrow." He nodded when she looked at him in disbelief, and encouraged him to keep walking with him as they made their way towards a carriage waiting just outside. "Even if Will succeeds," he stopped her just outside of the entrance of the prison, turning her towards him, "do not ask me to endure the sight of my daughter walking to the gallows. Do not." He continued again, pulling her towards the carriage. "Perhaps I can ensure a fair trial for Will if he returns." He stopped in front of the carriage, grabbing the handle of the door and stopping for a moment before adding, "As for Victoria, I pray that I can have her discovered or saved by other means. Death doesn't seem on the agenda for her quite yet, but who knows if that would soon be changed."

"A fair trial for Will ends in a hanging," she told him, her heart skipping a beat upon such a thought.

"Then there is nothing left for you here," he responded to her, eyes sad. Without another word, he drew the door open, nodding for her to climb in.